Verified with SoFo this morning that the Neato label-program included on DVDA is a time-limited trial bonus-goodie (altho it is a full-version), and they have no control/financials over it.

Called Neato (800.984.9800), and they have a couple specials to upgrade it to a non-time-limited version. Was thinking about getting MediaFace 4 anyways, so this is even better.

Thanks, SoFo!

Thanks for the info. Could you share what the special offer is?
Tom

I bought Media face 4 with a load of sheets and a plastic tool to stick the DVD labels down for £19.99 sterling.

The software is actually really good, at that price I would pop down to the local computer store and buy it anyway.

As I remember it ... $20US for the software 'key' and 40-glossy labels. When I balked at glossies, she suggested 100-matte labels (plus the key) for same price. Forgot what the shipping was within US, though.

Not a Shock-And-Awe deal, but still better than retail, I'd say. Hope this helps.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from MediaFace 4.0. It is the worst program I have ever seen for creating labels. For example: The wizard opens and you are presented with a window which has access to backgrounds. Those include the ones which MF (pardon the abbreviation)has installed on the hard drive and other photo files you may have as well. Because it actually loads ALL the photos it reduces your system resources and slows down your computer. Then once you have chosen your favorite Neato label (it doesn't allow other types)you are brought to the text screen where you can type in what you want in a few different arrangements as long as you want the text black. After that it goes to the print option. If you don't like the font or the color you have to send it to the advanced interface which actually starts another MF program. Once there you look everywhere for a way to change the font and color and it is nowhere to be found. For that you have to go into the menu and look through the palette options which will (you guessed it) open another window. There you can choose a color but you have to decide between foreground or background. Guessing foreground is the correct choice. Highlighting the text boxes does not present you with the standard handles to stretch the textbox in the usual windows way. Instead you are given CAD coordinates which change as you try to stretch the box as you observe parts of the words disappear and reappear. Back to the help section again. All this to move some text around and change its color. DOS was more intuitive.
Since the program is designed to run all events simultaneously in seperate windows and in two concurrent programs the computer will eventually lock up. Once you get the "hang of it" you can create templates which will make the process easier if you even care by then. After that you can buy Neato refills to keep having fun with.

Try Click'N Design 3D. Much easier. Works well. And, you can use any kind of paper you like including "Neato".

John

Well, there went that bubble bursted ;-}(

Yeah, I've been trying to find an easy/simple/good (mutually-exclusive events maybe?) way to make labels - besides a Sharpie-pen. I didn't really want to devote as much time to creating labels as I did for the actual disk-content. Got real fed-up real quick with a bunch of programs out there, some even seem to make it tough just to make it tough.

I'd had high hopes for MF (heh-heh-heh), because I'd used one of its way-earlier incarnations sometime ago. Got the MF4 package yesterday and started playing with it. Found the same things you did, Craftech. And now I know why I have time to go grab an extra cup of coffee while I'm waiting for it to load, I'd thought I did a bad-install or something.

Would I be showing my newbie-ness if I asked where to get the Click-N-Design? I know I've seen it bundled with something else somewhere but I don't find it in my START menu.

Thanks for the tip, Craftech. You've been a big help to me many a time on this forum.

Hey, at least I got a whole (pun-intended) bunch of inexpensive donut-insulators now!

Must be personal choice I have no problem with the MF4 GUI and options, I never use the wizard stuff. The advanced interface works for me especially if you have the docked windows and all the palettes showing. I also like being able to create versions within the app etc. It is also very stable for me and loads fine, there is an update patch on the web site.

Personal pref as I say, you may want to look at the MF4 download page as there are PSD masks available for download. If you are going to do anything more than a quick cover you will probably need to use photoshop or similar rarther than any label app.

Hopefully these alone will have made the purchase not a complete waste.

Have fun, PAW

Ps. tried the click'n app but the trial would only load once - it also did not have UK paper sizes so no good for me.

Try the 30-day trial first:

http://www.stompinc.com/cnd3d/cnd3d_retail.phtml?stp

Buy the retail box if you like it, you get more artwork.

Lowest current price is $16.99:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005V258/104-6474200-7083165?v=glance&s=software&vi=special-offers&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

John